March 27, 2011

The year is 1909. Mexico has just been through a bloody revolution and despite all the bloodshed reverted back to a partially stable state of affairs.

In that era when the fame of two folk heroes Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa were spreading throughout Mexico, Ottoman Sultan Resad decided to send his compliments to the Mexican people through a valuable imperial gift.

He orders the imperial engineers to prepare an enduring gift to symbolize the friendship of Mexican and Ottoman peoples.

After a few months of work, the Sultan's engineers created this watch tower covered with precious Iznik ceramic tiles and a dial that displayed Arabic numerals.

Today the same clock tower still stands in Mexico City where it was erected almost a century ago.

The plaque on the tower reads "La Colonia Otomana a Mexico. Septiembre de 1910." (From the Ottoman Community to Mexico. September 1910)

The clock, standing on Bolivar Street, is still working without a hitch today. However the ceramic tiles are falling apart. The Mexican officials have asked for Turkey's help in renewing the historic but damaged tiles with new ones from Iznik.

Diana

Latinamerican Tower

Happy Sunday!

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March 22, 2011

Mexico City is the third most populated metropolis on the planet, after Tokyo and New York. Currently, less than 20% of journeys are taken in private vehicles, resulting in a congested public transport system, which introduces environmental and social problems, affecting the quality of life for Mexico City’s citizens.

As environmental awareness increases in the city, so has an interest in alternative ways of getting around. The local government has established a 15 year plan known as ‘Plan Verde’ – the Green Plan – which takes action preserving land of a high environmental value, public space, habitability, water supply, air quality, climate change, energy, solid waste control and mobility.

As part of this plan, Eco-Bici – the city’s cycle-hire scheme – was created. The long-term objective is that 5% of the city’s journeys will be taken by bike, both reducing the strain on a crowded public transport network and reducing pollution. If this goal is reached, the resulting reduction in greenhouse gases would be the biggest of any of Plan Verde’s programs.

Eco-Bici provides a clean alternative for moving short distances. It is the first in Latin America and the eleventh in the world, following cities such as Paris, Milan and Barcelona. Intended for short and casual trips, the introduction of Eco-Bici into the city takes advantage of its cycling infrastructure and aims to increase bike-based activities. To further encourage bicycle use, the main avenue in the city closes for a bike ride every Sunday, with up to 80,000 bikers taking part. [This Big City]

Have a great week!

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March 2, 2011

In the shadow of the Cathedral of Cuernavaca the Casa de la Torre houses a unique collection of fine and decorative arts from all over the world. The visitor will enjoy a house-museum created in a portion of a massive adobe and stone XVI century Franciscan Monastery.

This collection (more than 1,300 pieces) was assembled by Robert Brady (1928-1986). Born in Iowa with a career in the fine arts at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Tyler Arts Center of Temple University and the Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pennsylvania, he established residence in Venice, Italy for five years before settling in Cuernavaca, Mexico in 1962. [Brady Museum]

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